Folding table.



W. A. SNYDER. FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

I MIN im ill' 21706117137: 2, Jaw/ w 023 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ASHLEY SNYDER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING TAJLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ASHLEY SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a table adapted to fold up into a cabinet or other structure, it being immaterial, so far as my invention is concerned, whether the cabinet be a separate piece of furniture, or be built into the walls of a house structure.

It consists essentially in an automatic device for releasing the supporting legs of the table.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification :-Figure l is a perspective view showing the table down for use. Fig. 2"is a vertical cross section showing the table folded. Fig. 3 1s a front view showing the table folded, and the closure open. Fig. 4 is a detail section showing the automatic leg releasing device.

In the drawings 5 designates a cabinet which may typify a recess or other wall const ruction as desired. The back part of the cabinet is preferably provided with shelves, 6, which may be utilized as a cupboard or pantry for articles which are needed when the table is let down for use.

The table is formed with a top 7 and side and end rails 8, the inner end rail being hinged at its lower inner edge, as at 10, to a horizontal panel 9 separating the lower part of the cabinet from the upper part, the lower part being used as a weight box. The top of the table overhangs the side and end rails, except at the rear where it is flush with the end rail as shown.

hen the table is folded as shown in'Figs. 2 and 3, doors 11 cover the upper part of the opening above horizontal shelf 9, the lower part being closed by a strip 12 hinged at its lower edge to the front of theshelf, 9. This strip is of precisely the same height as the height of the table above shelf 9 when in its lower position, so that the bottom edges of doors 11 will come just snu ly above the table top as shown in Fig. 2. T us, when the table is down, the opening may be neatly closed and all unsightliness avoided. Strip 12 hangs below the table when lowered, and out of sight especially when the table is covered with a cloth.

Specification of Letters I ateht.-

Application filed October 6, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 456,479.

The table is supported at its outer end by legs 15 hinged at 16 to the outer end rail of the table, and connected by cross bar 17. A longitudinal beam 18 extends along the under side of the table top and is provided with a notched catch 19 inserted in its upper edge, the catch being preferably of metal. A rod 20 is pivoted to legs 15 and is of just suflicient length to engage in catch 19 when the legs are swung downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. A sliding bar 30 is mounted on beam 18 and is provided with a beveled end 31 adapted to push rod 20 out of engagement with catch 19 when the bar is moved longitudinally toward the right in Fig. 4. The left end 32 of the bar projects through end rail 8 of the table andcontacts with shelf 9 when the table is swung upwardly into the cabinet, the bar being thereby moved to disengage rod 20 from catch 19.

lounterbalance weight 25 is hung on cables or chains 26 which pass over pulleys 27 on shelf 9 and pulleys 28 on the rear end rail of the table, being finally secured to the side rails at 29. The weight thus balances the table and renders its operation easy.

A strip 35 is placed on shelf 9 and has a hinged piece 36 attached't'o its upper end and adapted to swing horizontally into engagement with the inner end of the table, the table edge and the edge of the hinged piece being rabbeted for that purpose. All extension of the table top is thus formed which is useful when the table is used with brace, and means to move the brace out ofengagement with the catch, comprising a movable member mounted on the hinged member and adapted to engage with the cabinet when the hinged member is within the same, and a wedge connected to the movable member and contacting with the brace.

WILLIAM ASHLEY SNYDER.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES T. BARKELEW, -.CEYLON O. THomNc'roN. 

